Moving to Oakwood (Dayton)...Comments? (Columbus, Cincinnati: fit in, section 8, apartments)

[Musberg_to_Ohio]

Looking to move to Oakwood (Dayton) very soon...Married with young school aged children.

- Comments or concerns about moving to Oakwood?
- Buying a home in Oakwood a good/great/bad idea?...Dayton and surrounding area economy seems slow.
- Oakwood on the upswing/downswing?
- Best part of Oakwood to buy....best value for money...west or east of far hills?
- Schools as good as advertised or living on past glory?
- Oakwood...friendly or snobby?

Thanks for your time.

[dayton_ohio]

Great community. If you like older homes, its a very good choice in Dayton.

Buying anywhere in Dayton is a risk -- but the goal (if you care about selling) is to buy low and sell higher. Dayton probably never will have California or Florida levels of appreciation, but it's tough to imagine that things could get much worse in the Dayton economy (short of Wright-Pat or the big Moraine GM plant shutting down). If the economy here picks up, areas like Oakwood could appreciate rapidly.

Oakwood is neither on the upswing nor downswing. It's relatively stable. Homes have been on the market longer than normal lately, but things are still selling. A lot of young families are moving into the area.

Best value for the money depends on what you want. The cheapest homes (and less desirable areas) are Shroyer Avenue, the southern section of Oakwood approaching Dorothy Lane, and parts of Irving Avenue near UD. You still get Oakwood schools and city services. The middle section of Oakwood near the library and Smith school is relatively affordable and in walking distance to a lot. If you have a lot of money to spend, west of Far Hills and north Oakwood around the community center are very nice, with bigger homes and bigger lots.

Schools remain excellent. Teachers are well paid. Parents are involved but not too involved. The kids are generally smart, motivated, and well prepared. Residents approve every school levy, so there is plenty of money. You won't find a better district in Ohio -- the peer districts are places like Bexley in Columbus, Indian Hills and Wyoming in Cincinnati, and Ottawa Hills in Toledo, all excellent school districts. It's like having private schools.

Oakwood is very friendly. To outsiders, it can look unfriendly, but it is one of the friendliest neighborhoods we've lived in. People stop by to say hello, neighbors watch out for each others kids, and people talk in the parks and while walking.

[JefferyT]

Arn't they supposed to be getting some Section 8 renters in some apartments there? This was in the news, I think, recently, but I am not sure what part of Oakwood that is in.

[wrightflyer]

Don't even get me started on that forum (in DDN site). To end that, it will only be 16 two-person apartment units in buildings that I already think look shabby. Half are already filled. I've biked in that part of Dayton/Oakwood/Kettering and never had a problem with any unsavory elements and I doubt that'll change. Try going back to Prince George's County, MD (Dad's old home). Now that can be scary.

I'd recommend Oakwood to almost anybody. I personally think that Oakwood has sort of a mold to who lives there. It's not like Stepford, but I sometimes wonder. Personally, there's a 99% chance you'll fit in fine (assuming you keep good care of your property). Oakwood has pretty stict zoning codes.

IMO, the old homes a nice to look at, but can be a pain to update if need be. Of course, others may enjoy those projects. Just factor in those costs and don't take financial risks via ARM loans.

[JefferyT]

^
I read that article, and after your comment I went back and looked at the remarks, and they are a hoot!

The stereotyple about Oakwood is that it is wealthy and elitist, and there is no-doubt people in Oakwood who fit those words.

Yet Oakwood has changed a bit and many stereotypes of the place no longer hold. One of the demonstrations of this is that Oakwood was the only community in the Dayton area to actually defeat that state ban on gay marriage referendum. This shows that Oakwood people (a majority of them) are more socially tolerant and accepting, perhaps more open-minded, than others give them credit for.

[Musberg_to_Ohio]

Thanks to all for your advice...now if Dayton (city proper and dowtown) could find a way to revitalize---watch out. The city and surrounding areas have much going for it that many medium size cities could only dream of. 1) Fortune 500 companies, 2) Largest Military Research Base in the World and 3) Four full seasons and decent terrain.

Thanks again

[JefferyT]

Ah you must be in town already!

[christinaohio]

Feel free to contact me about Oakwood. I am an Oakwood resident and area Realtor, and I can answer any and all of your questions.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by JefferyT

The stereotyple about Oakwood is that it is wealthy and elitist, and there is no-doubt people in Oakwood who fit those words.

Thirty, forty years ago that was true, to an extent and for a small part of Oakwood. Now that some of my friends have moved to Oakwood ... well, there goes the neighborhood!

[YoMikey617]

Oakwood is the best. No iff's, ands or buts. Best schools, smallest schools, safe walking town (rare in Dayton), and the town has a well protected & maintained old world character unlike anywhere else in Dayton.( If Oakwood were a Dayton suburb built in the 1970's, it would be run down by now.)

Oakwood USED TO have an elitist aura about it back in the day. Many Daytonians still cling to that old aura as if they're somehow not permitted to live in Oakwood. Sure it's an affluent neighborhood, but most people in Dayton's other affluent suburbs could afford Oakwood if they truly want to live there. For most affluent Daytonians the choice is a toss up betweeen "older house with character" and "new McMansion on half acre lot with 3 car garage."

The "Section 8 Scare" was little more than some meetings where a bunch of old geezers basked in their own fake outrage over the unknown fate of some apartment buildings.